First drive: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Hyundai Veloster.

PHOTO: Hyundai, handout

Something sporty for gen Y

By Gabriel Gélinas, Postmedia News

Originally published: September 15, 2011

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Vancouver • The 2012 Veloster, which will be in Canadian dealerships this month, is the third new vehicle launched in Canada by Hyundai in the past nine months and represents “the most aggressive application of the fluidic structure design concept adopted by Hyundai,” according to Steve Kelleher, president and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada.

Prefaced by the Veloster Concept introduced at the Seoul Auto Show in 2007, the new Veloster is aimed squarely at the Generation Y set and breaks new ground for the Korean automaker with its polarizing, almost cartoonish exterior design. Styled as a cross between a coupe and a hatchback, the Veloster stands out with its asymmetrical three-door configuration, complete with two doors on the passenger side and one on the driver’s side, as well as its low roofline, squat shape, hexagonal grille and three-dimensional wheel arches. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, let’s just say it is striking and leave it at that.

From a purely functional standpoint, the passenger-side rear door does allow for easier access to the rear seats, but passengers will find the sweeping roofline seriously restricts headroom to the point that a sticker on the inside of the Veloster’s hatch warns to use caution when closing it so as not to strike the heads of the passengers seated on the back seats — just like on the Audi TT.

According to Mykola Kindratyshyn, a young designer at the Hyundai design studio in Irvine, Calif., the theme of the Veloster’s interior is “extreme motion” and the angular centre console is inspired by the fuel tank of a sports motorcycle. The cabin does look cool as well as distinctive and it is clear Hyundai has paid special attention to the fit and finish quality, which is noteworthy.

Power for the Veloster is supplied by the same direct-injection 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that is found under the hood of the new Accent. With 138 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque, this engine is adequate at best in the Veloster, which is heavier than the subcompact Accent. It really needs to be worked hard to get the kind of performance its looks suggest. Throttle response is slow, the six-speed manual gearbox needs to be rowed through the gears and the Veloster generally feels underpowered when climbing grades or passing other vehicles — to the point where I often had to shift all the way down from sixth to fourth or even third gear.

Even Hyundai’s all-new six-speed double-clutch gearbox with shift paddles (a $1,400 option) only does a slightly better job of glossing over the engine’s lack of power. To be fair, Hyundai says the powertrain is geared for efficiency not performance, and the automaker claims both gearboxes will return a fuel economy rating of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway. However, I saw an 8.2 L/100 km average with the dual-clutch gearbox and an 8.0 L/100 km average with the manual on the drive out of Vancouver and up to Howe Sound and back. On twisty secondary roads, the handling was composed and the body structure felt rigid, but the steering feel was somewhat uncommunicative and the ride felt choppy on less-than-perfect pavement.

In terms of equipment levels, the base model, which retails for $18,999, is anything but as it features four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability and traction control systems, air conditioning, a seven-inch LCD multimedia touchscreen, a 196-watt six-speaker audio system with XM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, heated front seats and mirrors, a proximity key with push-button start and a rear-view camera.

Adding the $3,500 Technology Package will get you 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation, a 450-watt eight-speaker audio system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob as well as alloy pedals and automatic headlights. It’s with this package that the Veloster really shines. Also noteworthy is that the interface provided by the seven-inch LCD touchscreen is very user-friendly as it allows the driver or passenger to quickly access all relevant data and functions. It can also be used for the viewing and storage of images and videos downloaded from USB devices.

The Veloster is striking and distinctive both inside and out and it is also loaded with a lot of equipment for the price. Just don’t get the idea that it will go as fast as it looks.